Project aim

About the project

Shemaron was built in 1949 at Weatherheads boat yard in Cockenzie. She enjoyed a long and illustrious career on the water hunting and catching herring by use of the ring net.

Shemaron is a prime example of a single purpose ringnetter and one of the very few remaining. After stopping fishing in 2006 Shemaron has been lovingly worked on and in part restored using original and new parts. In 2015 she was donated to the Ring Net Heritage Trust in an attempt to secure her future. Shemaron is currently out of the water in Ardrossan. The results of a survey although not damning demonstrate the need for urgent work.

Shemaron always attracts a lot of interest, her unmistakable profile is a reminder of earlier times when boats like these commonly made hazardous winter journeys to the Outer Hebrides and were a common site in harbours around Scotland and northern England.

The trust needs £3500 initially to repair and strengthen her hull before she can be re-launched. We are also seeking further funding to continue the restoration keeping as close as possible to her original spec. This includes a re-built Kelvin engine and a replica whellhouse.